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COIS'STITUTION, 

AND 

RTJILiES OF OIlI>EIl 

OF THE 

/ SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' 

NiTIONAL UNION LEAGUE, 

•w-A.sia:i2^C3-T02sr, id. c. 



Organized Septemlter. ftli) 1865. 



1 • r^ ,•-» 



WASHINGTON : 

GIDEON & PEARSON, PRINTERS. 

1865. 



.;m 



I 



CONSTITUTION, 



llXJT^Ef^ OF OnOER 



SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' 



/ 

SOL 

NATIONAL UNION LEAfUJE 



Orgaitized September 8tli, 1865. 






WASHINGTON : 

GIDEOX & PF.ARSON, PRINTERS. 

1365. 



i2srx):E2c 



.». ; CONSTITUTION. 

Preamble ..^..}.tk 3 

Article 1 — Name 3 

'' 2— Officers 4 

" 3 — Duties of Officers 4 

"■ 4 — Membership 5 

5— Benefits 6 

'' 6 — Committees 6 

" 1 — Meetings 6 

" 8 — Violations of Constitution 6 

•' 9 — Amendments 1 

BY-LAWS. 

Article 1 — Committees 9 

" 2 — Meetings 10 

" 3 — Revenue 11 

<< 4^Trial of Members 11 

" 5 — x4.mendments 11 

Order of Business 12 

Rules of Order.,. 12 



OOlSrSTXTTJTIOlSr. 

PREAMBLE. 

Whereas, TVe, the undersigned, discharged soldiers 
and sailors of the United States, being desirous of forming 
an organization having for its object the maintenance 
of our best interests, and the fostering of that heroic 
spirit which led us forth to battle in a sacred cause, and 
to secure to ourselves a proper recognition of our just 
claims, among -which are the following : 

First. To procure for honorably discharged soldiers 
and sailors, who possess sufficient qualifications, the 
preference in all situations in the gift of the federal, 
state, and municipal governments. 

Second. To obtain from government an equalization of 
the bountii'S of the soldiers of 1861 and 1862, with the 
bounties i)aid to those enlisting later in the war. 

Third. To procure employment in the general pursuits 
of life for our comrades who may need such assistance. 

Fourth. To urge upon the government and the people 
the just claims of honorably discharged soldiers, and 
the widows and orphans of our fallen comrades, that a 
speedy settlement of their claims may be made, and ihat 
the condition of widows and orphans may be ameliorated. 

Fifth. To extend to members, who, by sickness or 
other misfortune, are prevented from pursuing their usual 
avocations, such aid as will alleviate their suffering, and 
for the purpose of more effectually carrying the same into 
eflFect, we do hereby ordain and publish the following 
Constitution, and hereby solemnly pledge ourselves to a 
hearty and earnest support of the same. 

ARTICLE I. 
Name. 
This association shall be styled the Soldiers' and 
Sailors' National Union League, of Washington, D. C. 



ARTICLE II. 

Officers. 

Sec. 1 . The officers of this League shall consist of a 
President, a Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corres- 
ponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, and 
Sergeant-at-Arms. 

Sec. 2. The above-named officers shall be elected semi- 
annually, by ballot — a majority of all the votes cast 
being necessary to secure a choice 

Sec. 3. The regular elections shall take place at the 
last regular meetings in December and June of each 3'ear, 
and the officers elect shall be installed at the first regular 
meetings in January and July of each year. 

ARTICLE III. 

Duties of Officers. 

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the President to preside 
at all the meetings of this association, to maintain order 
and enforce the rules, and perform such other duties as 
the League may require of him. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to act 
in conjunction with the President in maintaining order. 
Should the President be absent the Vice-President will 
officiate in his place. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary 
to keep a record of the proceedings of this body, attest 
by his signature all action of the League, all bills drawn 
upon the Treasurer, and approved by the President, and 
perform such other duties as may from time to time be 
reijuired of him. 

tsEC. 4 It shall be the duty of the Corresponding 
Secretary to conduct all the correspondence of the League, 
attend to the printing, and perform such other duties as 
may be required of him. 

Sec. 5. it shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary 
to collect the initiation fees, dues, and fines from the 
members, and pay the same to the Treasurer, taking his 
receipt therefor. He shall notify members who are in 



arrears for dues fees, or fines, and shall make a monthly 
report of all funds collected by him and paid over to the 
Treasurer. 

Sec. 6. The Treasurer shall receive and deposit with 
some responsible banker all moneys of this League, pay 
all bills audited by the Finance Committee, if approved 
by the President, and attested by the Recordinp; Secretary. 
He shall also render a monthly report of the finances of 
the League, and shall keep his bank-book open to the 
inspection of the Finance Committee, and at the expira- 
tion of his term of office he shall deliver to his successor, 
or such other person as the League may designate, all 
moneys, books, and other property of the League in his 
possession ; and before he shall enter upon the discharge 
of his duties he shall execute a writing with two vouch- 
ers, in such sum as from time to time shall be deemed 
sufficient by the Finance Committee, for the faithful per- 
formance of his duties. 

Seo. v. The Sergeant-at-Arms- shall assist the Presi- 
dent in maintaining order, and perform such other duties 
as may from time to time be required of him. 

Sec. 8. Ever}"- member of this League who shall be 
elected to any office, shall, before entering upon the duties 
of said office, assent to the following obligation : 

I do solemnly promise, in the presence of the 

witnesses here assembled, that I will faithfully support 
and maintain the Constitution of the "Soldiers' and 
Sailors' National Union League," and that 1 will faith- 
fully perform the duties of of this League to the 

best of my ability. 

ARTICE IV. 

Membership. 

Sec 1. The only qualification necessary to become a 
member of this League shall be an honorable discharge 
from the military or naval service of the United States. 

Sec. "i. Every person becoming a member of this 
League shall, at the time of his admission to membership, 
pay to the Financial Secretary the sum of one dollar and 



6 

subscribe to this Constitution and By-laws, and shall at 
the same time receive a certificate of membership, to be 
signed by the President and Recording Secretary. 

Sec. 3. Honorar}^ membership may be conferred upon 
such persons, not eligible to regular membership, as the 
League may determine upon. 

ARTICLE V. 

Be7iefits. 

Sec. 1. The fact of a member of this League being sick 
or in want coming to the knowledge of any member, 
the case shall by hira be reported to the League, and the 
Relief Committee shall examine into the case and I'eport 
such action as to them shall seem proper to be adopted. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Comviittees. 

Sec. 1. The standing committees of this League shall 
consist of an Executive Committee, a Finance Committee, 
a Committee on Membership, a Relief Committee, Com- 
mittee on Employment, a Room Committee, and a Com- 
mittee on Statistics. 

ARTICLE VII. 

3Ieetings. 

Sec. 1. The meetings of this League shall be held once 
in each week, at such time and place as the By-laws shall 
prescribe. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Violations of the Constitution. 

Sec. 1. Any member found guilty of violating this 
Constitution, or any part thereof, shall be expelled from 
the League, provided two-thirds of the members present 
concur. 



Sec. 2. Any member found guilty of any improper or 
criminal conduct, or conduct having a tendency to bring 
the League into disrepute, shall be expelled, fined, sus- 
pended, or reprimanded, as the committee before which 
he may be tried shall direct : Provided^ That two-thirds 
of the members present concur, and no fine shall exceed 
the sum of five dollars. 

Sec. 3, Any member who shall refuse or neglect to pay 
such fees, dues, or other payments that may from time 
to time become due after he has been notified by the 
Financial Secretary that such fees, dues, or other pay- 
ments were due, shall be suspended until such payments 
shall be made; and in case he shall refuse to comply wi:h 
the instructions of the Financial Secretary for three 
months, he shall be dropped from the roll. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Amendments. 

Sec. 1. This Constitution may be amended at any time 
in the following manner, viz : 

A resolution to amend shall be submitted at a regular 
meeting. The President will refer said resolution to a 
committee of five members, who shall report thereon 
at the next regular meeting, which report shall lie upon 
the table until the succeeding regular meeting, when, 
if two- thirds of the members present concur, it shall 
be adopted. 



BY-LAWS. 



ARTICLE I. 

Committees. 

Sec. 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of five 
members, of which the President and Recording Secretary 
shall be ex officio Chairman and Secretary. It shall be 
the duty of this committee to meet at least once in each 
•week to take into consideration the good and welfare of 
the League. They will, from time to time, make such 
suggestions to the League as they may think fitted' to ad- 
vance the interests of the cause. 

Sec. 2. The Finarce Committee shall consist of three 
members, to be appointed by the President, and it shall 
be the duty of this committee to audi^ all bills presented 
to- the League for payment, to examine and report upon 
the monthly reports of the Financial Secretary and Treas- 
urer, and perform such other duties as the Constitution 
or the League may require of them. 

Sec. 3. The Committee on Membership shall consist of 
three members, to be appointed by the President. It 
shall be the duty of this committee to consider and re- 
port upon the eligibility of candidates for membership, 
and to perform such other duties as the Constitution or 
the League may require of them. 

Sec. 4. The Comraittre on Employment shall consist 
of five members, to be appointed by the President. It 
shall be the duty of this committee to keep a record of 
the name and occupation of all members desiring employ- 
ment, and they shall use their best endeavors to procure 
employment adapted to the qualification of all members 
who require such aid. 



10 

Sec. 5. The Relief Committee shall consist of five mem- 
bers, to be appointed by the President. It shall be the 
duty of this committee to wait upon any member who 
may be sick, and if such member is found to be in need 
they shall make such recommendations to the League as 
will, in their judgment, relieve the suffering member, and 
perform such other duties as the Constitution or the 
League may require of them. 

Sec. 6. The Room Committee shall consist of three 
members, to be appointed by the President. It shall be 
the duty of this committee to see that the hall of the 
League is properly lighted, warmed, and ventilated, and 
they shall, upon an approved requisition of the Secretaries, 
procure such stationery as the League may require, and 
perform such other duties as the Constitution or the 
League may require of them. 

Sec. 1. The Committee on Statistics shall consist of five 
members, of which the Vice-President and Corresponding 
Secretary shall be ex officio Chairman and Secretary. It 
shall be the duty of this committee to collect and pre- 
serve an accurate military history of each member of the 
League ; preserve a copy of all records, documents, and 
publications of the League, as well as all letters received 
by the League, with copies of the replies to those of im- 
portance. 

The papers in charge of this committee shall be so pre- 
served and filed that at any time a full and complete his- 
tory of the League from its organization may be compiled 
therefrom. 

ARTICLE II. 

3Ieetings. 

Sec. 1. The regular meetings of this League shall be 
held at their hall, on every Monday evening, at TJ p. m. 

Sec. 2. Whenever fifteen members shall request the 
President in writing, it shall be his duty to call a special 
meeting of the League. 

Sec. 3. Fifteen members of this League shall constitute 
a quorum for the transaction of business. 



11 

ARTICLE III. 

Revenue. 

Sec. 1. The initiation fee of this League shall be one 
dollar, and the regular dues twenty-five cents per month. 

Sec. 2. Any officer of this League who may be absent 
from a regular meeting shall, unless he can give a satis- 
factory excuse, pay to the League the sum of one dollar ; 
and if absent for three successive meetings his teat may 
be declared vacant, and a new officer shall be elected. 

ARTICLE IV. 
Trial of Members. 

Whenever a charge shall have been preferred against 
any member, it shall be the duty of the President to ap- 
point a committee of five members to examine the case of 
the offending member. 

The committee shall give the accused four days' notice 
of the time and place of meeting, and shall furnish him 
with a copy of the charges, and the names of the wit- 
nesses. 

The secretary of this committee shall keep a record of 
its proceedings and of the testimony taken. 

Tne committee, after having examined all the details 
of the case, shall recommend such action to the League 
as the circumstances of the case require. 

ARTICLE V. 

Amendments. 
These by-laws may be altered or amended by a two- 
thirds vote of 'he members present at any regular meet- 
ing of the League. 



12 
ORDER OF BUSINESS. 



1. Calling the meeting to order by the President. 

2'. Calling the roll of officers. 

3. Reading of the record of the last raeeting. 

4. Proposals for Membership. 

5. Reports of Special Committees. 

6. Reports of vStanding Committees. 
Y. Unfinishe'l business. 

8. New business. 

9. Good and welfare of the League. 



RULES OF ORDER. 



1. The President shall state every question properly 
presented to the League, and before putting it to vote, 
shall ask, ''Is the League ready for the question?" 
Should no member offer to speak he shall rise to put it ; 
and after he has risen no member shall be permitted to 
speak without his permission. While he is putting a 
question, or addressing the League, no one shall walk 
out of or across the room, or entertain any private dis- 
course. 

2. The President shall have a casting vote in case of a 
tie, but in ordinary shall not vote. He shall announce 
all votes and decisions His decisions on points of order 
shall not be debatable, unless entertaining doubts upon 
the subject, he invite discussion. 

3. He may speak to points of order in preference to 
other members of the League, rising from his seat for that 
purpose, and &hall decide questions of order, subject to 



13 

an appeal to the League bj any two members, which 
apj^eal shall not be debatable. 

4. When an appeal is taken from the decision of the 
President, he shall put the question thus — "Shall the 
decision of the Chair be sustained?" 

5. A motion must be seconded, and afterwards repeated 
from the Chair, or read aloud before it is debated. A 
motion shall be reduced to writing if the Recording Sec- 
retary shall request it. 

6. All resolutions shall be submitted in writing. 

7. When a member speaks or offers a motion, he shall 
rise in his place and respectfully address the President, 
and shall not proceed to sperik until he is recognized by 
the President; he shall confine himself to the question 
under consideration, and avoid personality or unbecom- 
ing language. 

8. When a member is called to order, he shall take his 
seat until the point is determined. 

9. When two or more members rise to speak at the 
same time, the presiding officer shall decide who is enti- 
tled to the floor, 

10. Anj^ member having made a motion may with- 
draw it, witli leave of bis second, before it is debated, 
but not afterwards, without leave of the League. 

11. No member shall speak more than twice, Tior 
longer than ten minutes each time, on auy question, 
without leave of the League, which leave shall be granted 
or refused without debate. 

12. While a member is speaking no one shall interrupt 
him, except for the purpose of calling him to order, or 
asking of the presiding officer leave to explain. A mem- 
ber allowed "to explain" shall only have the right to 
exj)lain an actual misunderstandi-ng of language, and 
shall be strictly prohibited from going into debate on 
the merits of the case. 

13. For any member speaking to impeach the motives 
of a fellow member, or treat him with personal disrespect, 
or to pass between him and the Chair while he is speaking, 
shall be deemed a violation of order, which may incnr 
the censure of the presiding officer, or of the League. 



14 

14. It shall be the duty of the presiding officer, and 
the privilege of any member of the League, to call a 
member to order who violates an established rule of 
order. 

15. Any conversation, by whispering or otherwise, 
which is calculated to disturb a member while speaking, 
or hinder the transaction of business, shall be deemed a 
violation of order, and, if persisted in, shall incur cen- 
sure. 

16. When the decision of a question is doubted, the 
presiding officer will cause the votes in the affirmative 
and negative to be counted. 

lY. When a question is before the League, the only 
motion in order shall be, 1st, to adjourn ; 2d, to lay on 
the table ; 3d, the previous question ; 4th, to postpone 
to a day certain ; 5th, to commit ; 6th, to amend ; 7th, 
to postpone indefinitely ; which several motions shall 
have precedence in the order in which they are arranged, 
and the first three to be decided without debate. 

18. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, 
except, 1st, when a member is in possession of the floor ; 
2d, while the yeas and nays are being called ; 3d, when 
the members are voting ; 4th, when adjournment was 
the last preceding motion ; or 5th, when it has been 
decided that the previous question shall be taken. 

19. When the previous question is moved and seconded 
by one-third of the members present, the main question 
shall be put, and all further motions, amendments, and 
debates shall be concluded, and the question shall be put 
without delay. If the question has been amended, the 
question shall be taken on the amendment first. If more 
than one amendment has been made, the last made 
amendment shall take precedence in the vote. 

20. A motion to amend an amendment shall be in 
order, but to amend an amendment to an amendment 
shall not be entertained. 

21. When the presiding officer has commenced taking 
a vote, no further debate or remark shall be admitted, 
unless a mistake has been made, in which case the 



15 

mistake shall be rectified, and the presiding officer shall 
recommence taking the vote. 

22. When any blank is to be filled hj the names of 
persons, a vote shall be taken on the names in the order 
of their nomination ; but when a blank is to be filled by 
any sum of money, or time, proposed, the question shall 
be first put on the largest sum, and the most remote 
time. 

23. A question may be reconsidered any time during 
the session, or at the first regular session held thereafter ; 
but a motion for reconsideration being once made and 
decided in the negative, shall not be renewed. 

24. A motion to reconsider must be made and seconded 
by those who voted in the majority. No question shall 
be reconsidered more than once, nor shall a vote to 
reconsider be reconsidered. To reconsider any resolu- 
tion, &c., the decision of which has officially passed 
out of the League, shall not be in order. 

25. A motion to repeal or rescind a resolution shall be 
submitted in writing. 

26. The yeas and nays upon any question before the 
League may be called for by two members, and upon the 
assent of one-fifth of the members present shall be so 
taken. 

27. In taking the yeas and nays the Recording Secre- 
tary- shall call the roll and record the yeas and nays ; 
after the roll has been c'alled the result shall be read 
aloud to rectify mistakes, if any, after which the Record- 
ing Secretary shall hand the vote to the President who 
shall announce the same. 

28. In voting by yeas and nays all present in regular 
standing in the League must vote, unless excused by the 
League, but no member shall vote who was not in the 
room at the time the question was put. A motion to ex- 
cuse shall be decided without debate. 

29. The reading of any paper called for relating to the 
subject under debate shall always be in order. 

30. All reports of committees, except reports of pro- 
gress, shall be made in writing and signed by a majority. 

31 . When a majority report is followed by a report from 



16 

jthe minority of a committee, the former, after being read 
shall lie upon the table until the latter is presented; afte 
wh'ch, on motion, either may be considered. 

32. When a report has been read it shall be considerei 
as properly before the League, without a motion to ac 
cept, 

33 The .member first named in the appointment of 
committee shall be Chairman of the same, and shall cal 
the committee to meet at such time and place as he ma 
elect ; but when thus convened, the Committee may elec 
its own Chairman and Secretary. 

34. The above Rules of Order may be altered c 
amended by a two-thirds vote of the members preser 
at any regular meeting of the League. 



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012 196 670 • 



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L/BRARY OF 



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